THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504300210
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Phil Warren extended his weekly Late Model Stock winning streak to five at Langley Speedway on Saturday night, but the Norfolk driver can't be accused of putting fans to sleep.
Warren engaged Mike Buffkin in one of the most exciting duels of the young season before pulling away in the final 19 laps to win the Coastal Homes 100.
Warren and Buffkin, who shared victories last week in a pair of 75-lap features, left everyone else in their fumes while banging bumpers at the front of the field.
Warren started on the pole and led the opening 50 laps before Buffkin slipped under him.
After failing to regain the lead on the low side, Warren drove his Chevrolet Monte Carlo to the high lane on the 72nd lap. He and Buffkin raced side-by-side at speeds of 85 mph for 10 laps before Warren worked Buffkin in behind a lower car and moved ahead to stay.
``I thought I might be wearing out my tires by running the high lane, but he wasn't going to let me get around him on the inside,'' Warren said.
He gave a quick smile and added, ``But you can wear out your tires down low, too, and that may have happened to him.''
Buffkin acknowledged that his car slowed during the side-by-side duel as his tires began to give up.
Buffkin said he tapped Warren a few times and ``got him a little squirrely'' before taking the lead at the halfway point.
``He tapped on me when I got in front of him, too,'' Buffkin said. ``You expect that in this kind of racing. It is all legal fun.''
Warren is having his best season since winning 11 races at Langley in 1988.
Shawn Balluzzo was third for his best finish of the season.
In other divisions:
Grand Stock: Roger Bress won the first 25-lap feature and end up just short of doubling his pleasure in the second 25-lapper as he finished second to James Kenney.
Bress started sixth in the second race and was moving to the front when he and Phil Hedgepeth tangled and were sent to the rear of the field on the 11th lap. Bress sped through the field and into second place before running out of time to complete his charge.
Mini-Stock: One day after her 30th birthday, Cathy Mosier drove to her first victory since August by leading all 25 laps. ``I was hungry tonight, and this (win) is better than any prime rib I've ever eaten,'' Mosier said after holding off a strong challenge from Kevin Harrison.
Limited Stock: Points leader Tod Carson emerged from a tight battle with Kevin Adams to win his fourth 25-lap feature by 3 feet. The two rivals raced side-by-side for the final six laps.
Pure Stock: Corey Fogleman benefited for the second time this season from the misfortune of Vince Pope, who was disqualified after an apparent victory. Fogleman also got a win two weeks ago when Pope was disqualified when post-race inspection uncovered an illegal intake manifold. Third-place finisher Don Masingo also was disqualified for an illegal carburetor. by CNB